Merry-go-round.



A. J. STICKNEY. MERRY-GO-ROUNQ. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22. 1916.

- 1,179,972. Patented Apr. 18,1916.

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ALBERT J. STICKNEY, OF NORTH TONAWANDA,NEW Yortn, ASSIGNOR TO HERSCHELL- s'PILLMAN COMPANY, OF'NORTH TONAW'ANDA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION on 'NEW YORK.

Application fi1ed January 22, 1916.

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. S'rroKNny, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Tonawanda. in the county of Niagaraand State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Merry-Go- Rounds, of which the following is a specification. p v

This invention relates to portable merrygo-rounds or carousels, and particularly to means for securing the sectional upper frame or cornice to the radial arms or sweeps.

The object of my invention is to so unite these parts thatthey can be easily and quickly assembled and taken apart, especially in traveling daily from one place to another as is customary with circuses, can nival companies and the like. A further object is to provide a simpleand durable fastening deviceof this character which eliminates the use of the fastening bolts and hooks heretofore employed for retaining the parts in their assembled position. j p

In the acconipanying drawings Figure'l isa fragmentary top plan view of a carousel embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section on line 2- 2,- Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3, Fig. 9.. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section online M, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View of one of the arms or sweeps.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

1 indicates the usual central upright shaft of the machine, to which the radial arms or sweeps 2 are fastened by any well known means. Arranged at the free outer ends of these sweeps, concentrically with the shaft 1 are the ornamental cornice-sections or segments 3. These sections may be of any ordinary construction and, as shown, comprise the customary longitudinal bars or rails 4: and end bars 5 which are rabbeted or grooved to receive the body portions or panels 3 of the sections. Adjoining sections meet at or near the center of the free ends of the sweepsand the opposing ends of each pair are notched or recessed to form an opening 6 adapted to receive the tenon or reduced portion 7 of the adjacent sweeps. The shoulder 8 formed. by reducing the Specification of Letters Patent.

MnnnY-eo-nonNn Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Serial No. 73,568.

sweep, limits the inward movement of the cornice-sections and determines their proper position on the sweep before being clamped thereto.

Extending vertically over the tenoned end ofeach sweep is a plate or strap 9 having its horizontal upper and lower members securely fastened to the sweep by screws or other means. The front portion 10 of this strap is provided with a vertical slot 11 terminating short of its lower end and provided at its upper end with an enlargement 12 which is located in the horizontal upper member of the strap. As shown at 13, the adjacent portion of the tenon is provided with a groove coinciding with the slot of the strap and as wide as the enlargement thereof, whereby these parts form an upright undercut groove in the end of the sweep.

The sectional cornice is removably secured to the sweeps by means of plates 14: preferably having the form of ornamental heads or shields, which are located at the ends of the adjoining cornice-sections and overlap the, same. Each shield is provided at its back with a bolt or headed projection 15, the shank of which is seated in the adjacent slot 11, while its head bears against the inner side of the strap 9, thereby detachably fastening the shield to the sweep, and as the cornice-sections are overlapped by the shield, they are securely held in place on the sweep to tightly clamp the parts together. The inner side of the strap 9 is preferably inclined, as shown at 16, so as to produce a wedging effect in lowering the shield into place on the sweep. By this construction, the cornice sections are positively and firmly retained upon the sweeps and displacement in all directions is efiectively pre vented.

The upper portion of each shieldis preferably held against the cornice-sections by depending hooks 17 which embrace their upper edges.

The openings of the cornice-sections extend above the tops of the sweeps, as shown at 18, to permit the entrance and withdrawal of the shield-bolts 15.

The upper members of the straps may be provided with suitable hooks 19, adapted to engage the lower edge of the usual tent or canopy of the machine.

3 assembling the cornice-sections, their notched ends are placed on opposite sides of the sWeep-tenons 7 and seated against the shoulders 8, after which the ornamental shields 1 1 are applied by engaging their bolts 15 with the slots of the straps 9 and forcing them downward until a tight fit is obtained. The parts are as readily dismembered by performing these operations in the reverse order.

When assembled, the circular series of cornice sections are held against horizontal or circumferential displacement by abutting against one another.

While affording the advantages of simplicity, durability and strength, the improvement permits the superstructure of the merry-go-round to be easily and quickly assembled and taken apart; and as no clamping bolts, hooks or similar fastenings are used, a great saving in time is effected, which is an important consideration when such machines must be daily transported,

as in fair and circus service.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a merry-go-round, the combination of a sweep, adjoining cornice-sections engaging the end-portion of the sweep, and a fastening shield removably secured to the sweep and overlapping said sections.

2. In a merrygQ-round, the combination of a sweep, adjoining cornice-sections engaging the end-portion of the sweep, and a removable fastening shield overlapping the adjoining ends of said sections, the shield and the end of the sweep being provided with interlocking members.

3. In a merry-'go-round, the combination of a sweep provided in its outer end with an undercut groove, cornice-sections engaging the end-portion of the sweep, and a removable fastening shield provided on its back with a headed projection interlocking with said groove.

4. In a merry-go-round, the combination of a sweep provided in its end with a groove, a plate secured to the end of the sweep and having a slot coinciding with said groove and provided with an enlargement, cornice sections engaging the end portions of the sweep, and a shield overlapping said sections and having a headed projection engaging said slot and groove.

5. In a merry-go-round, the combination of a sweep provided in its end with a groove, a plate secured to the end of the sweep and having a slot coinciding with said groove, the inner side of said plate being inclined, adjoining cornice-sections engaging the end portions of the sweep, and a shield overlapping said sections and having a headed projection engaging said slot.

6. In a merry-go-round, the combination of a sweep provided at its outer end with a tenon forming a shoulder, said tenon having an upright groove in its end, a strap having an upright portion extending over the end of the tenon, and a horizontal mem ber secured to the upper side of the sweep, said upright portion having a vertical slot opposite said groove and said horizontal portion containing an enlargement of said slot, adjoining cornice sections resting against the shoulder of the sweep at opposite sides of said tenon, and a removable shield overlapping the meeting ends of said sections and provided on its back with a headed projection engaging said slot and groove.

ALBERT J. STICKNE Y.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissmner o1 Patents, Washington, D. C. 

